The AAA Uganda Chapter Annual General Meeting: Looking at the past achievements to impact the future.

This year’s Uganda chapter AGM was held on 29 June 2016 at Grand Global hotel with over 40 members participating. In addition to the members present were 2 partner organizations, ICCO and Mango Fund, the media and the AAA Secretariat Director Mr. Karama Farid.

The AAA Uganda Chapter was registered in October 2012 and currently has 100 SME members who form the five Business Clubs (BCs). These BCs are spread in the various regions of Uganda and are: Central BC, East BC, Lira BC, West Nile BC and West BC. The Business Clubs are led by a BC leader who works together with the country coordinator to conduct activities at BC level.

During the AGM, the financial audited reports and narrative report for 2015 was presented to the members. The AGM celebrated the chapter’s outstanding performance for 2015 of recruiting 59 new members, launching the Western BC and active participation of members in the AAA 2015 Nairobi expo as well as the Honey and Dairy Sector Desk activities. Similarly, the Uganda Chapter was commended for hosting several Pan Africa activities such as the; AECF BP training, Inclusive Business Training, Pan Africa BoD meeting and AAA Writeshop.

Until June 29 2016, the AAA Uganda Chapter has been under the able leadership of Dr. Stephen Birungi – Chairman Board of Directors but this AGM saw a transition in the governance of the Chapter with the first Chapter elections for the BOD being conducted. The position of the Chairperson attracted three able contestants Ms. Judith Bakirya, Ms. Doreen Nsasiirwe and Dr.Benard Otim. These were given time to contest and deliver their manifesto to the members before the voting. Only paid up members participated in the secret ballot voting exercise which saw Ms. Judith Bakirya emerge with the majority of votes and was declared the new AAA Uganda Chapter Chairperson and she was followed by Dr. Bernard Otim who was declared the Vice Chairperson. AAA celebrates Ms. Judith Bakirya as AAA UG new Chairperson and also the only female Chairperson in the AAA member countries. In her opening speech as the new BoD Chairperson, her and the new team pledged to deliver the members’ value in the three years term in office. She said, “Once again thank you so much for electing me to become your Chairperson. Thank you for the trust. I want to make a great contribution in moving AAA to its next level of growth – probably becoming an “Adolescent” very attractive to members and also experimenting and innovating many ideas! We shall walk the path together , as we define to road map.”

The BoD constitutes representation from 5 Business Clubs, representative from the knowledge network, representation from the resident Sector Desk leaders (Dairy and Honey), a member, the Country Chapter Coordinator as the secretary to the BoD and a founding member as an ex-officio and advisor to the BoD. Finally, members were very happy with the results of the AGM and are committed to working with the new BoD and paying their membership for a vibrant AAA Uganda Chapter.